As I mentioned on a previous thread, hitters with thumb and/or wrist injuries can’t grip the bat correctly, meaning they can’t really hit. But J-Up was playing for Kirk Gibson, a manly man meathead who wanted him in the lineup if he was ambulatory, because, by God, that’s how Gibson played (and how he managed to fall significantly short of his enormous talent). So rather sit out a few days and let the thumb heal, Gibson was challenging J-Up’s manhood and leaning on him to play. J-Up’s lucky to be away from the fool.